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Hi Luna,

Thank you very much for this update and I am glad to see that your numbers are moving in the right direction! Can you say what brand of Nattokinase you are using?

Before you just cross K2M7 off of your list, it is worth mentioning that in the original study, there was a subgroup who received K2 that got better improved results. Another consideration is that K2M7 has multiple other health benefits worth considering such as :

Vitamin K2 (menaquinone) is one of the more interesting vitamins because it doesn't simply help the body absorb calcium—it helps direct calcium to where it belongs (bones and teeth) and away from where it can cause harm (arteries and soft tissues). Although bone and cardiovascular health have the strongest evidence, research has expanded into many other areas.

1. Bone Health (Strongest Evidence)

Vitamin K2 activates two important proteins:

• Osteocalcin – binds calcium into bone
• Matrix Gla Protein (MGP) – prevents calcium deposition in soft tissues

Potential benefits include:

• Increased bone mineral density
• Reduced fracture risk (especially in postmenopausal women)
• Improved bone quality, not just bone density
• Better calcium utilization
• Enhanced effects when combined with vitamin D and magnesium

This is why vitamin D, magnesium, and K2 are often considered complementary.

2. Cardiovascular Health (Strong Evidence)

This is one of the most studied areas.

Vitamin K2 activates MGP, which inhibits vascular calcification.

Potential benefits:

• Slower progression of arterial calcification
• Improved arterial flexibility
• Lower arterial stiffness
• Better endothelial function
• Reduced coronary artery calcification
• Lower cardiovascular mortality in observational studies
• Possible reduction in hypertension over time

People with the highest K2 intake generally have lower rates of cardiovascular disease than those consuming very little K2.

3. Dental Health

Vitamin K2 activates osteocalcin in teeth as well.

Potential benefits:

• Improved tooth mineralization
• Stronger enamel
• Better jawbone health
• Reduced risk of tooth loss
• Supports healing after dental procedures

4. Calcium Balance Throughout the Body

K2 helps determine where calcium is deposited.

It may help reduce calcium accumulation in:

• arteries
• heart valves
• kidneys
• cartilage
• joints
• other soft tissues

5. Kidney Health

Evidence is still emerging.

Potential benefits include:

• Reduced vascular calcification in chronic kidney disease
• Reduced calcification associated with dialysis
• Improved activation of MGP in kidney patients
• Possible slowing of calcification progression

Whether K2 slows decline in kidney function itself remains uncertain.

6. Diabetes and Metabolic Health

Some studies suggest K2 may:

• Improve insulin sensitivity
• Improve glucose metabolism
• Reduce insulin resistance
• Improve pancreatic beta-cell function
• Lower inflammation associated with metabolic syndrome

The evidence is promising but not definitive.

7. Brain Health

Research is growing.

Potential mechanisms include:

• Reduced neuroinflammation
• Better mitochondrial function
• Support for sphingolipid metabolism (important for nerve membranes)
• Reduced oxidative stress
• Possible protection against neuronal injury

Observational studies have linked lower vitamin K status with poorer cognitive performance, but interventional evidence remains limited.

8. Parkinson's Disease

Research is early but interesting.

Potential mechanisms:

• Improved mitochondrial function
• Reduced oxidative stress
• Possible reduction in ferroptosis
• Support for neuronal survival
• Reduced inflammatory signaling

Animal and cell studies are encouraging, but human evidence is still limited.

9. Alzheimer's Disease

Possible mechanisms include:

• Reduced oxidative stress
• Improved mitochondrial function
• Better neuronal membrane integrity
• Reduced neuroinflammation
• Possible effects on amyloid toxicity

Human clinical evidence remains limited.

10. Anti-Inflammatory Effects

Vitamin K2 appears capable of lowering inflammatory signaling.

Potential reductions have been reported in:

• CRP
• IL-6
• TNF-α
• NF-κB activation

These effects are generally modest but may contribute to its broader benefits.

11. Mitochondrial Function

One fascinating area of research is K2's role in electron transport.

Some experimental work suggests vitamin K2 may:

• Act as an electron carrier under certain conditions
• Improve mitochondrial efficiency
• Support ATP production
• Reduce oxidative damage

This has generated interest in neurodegenerative diseases.

12. Muscle Function

Indirect benefits include:

• Better muscle performance through healthier bones
• Reduced falls in older adults (possibly due to combined effects on bone and muscle)
• Possible improvements in muscle metabolism

Evidence here is moderate.

13. Frailty and Healthy Aging

Higher vitamin K status has been associated with:

• Better physical function
• Improved mobility
• Lower frailty scores
• Better grip strength
• Greater independence in older adults

14. Immune Function

Vitamin K2 may influence:

• Immune cell signaling
• Inflammatory regulation
• Resolution of inflammation

This remains an active area of research.

15. Liver Health

Possible benefits include:

• Reduced liver inflammation
• Better metabolic regulation
• Potential reduction in liver fibrosis (mainly experimental evidence)

16. Cancer Research

This area remains investigational.

Studies have explored K2 in relation to:

• Liver cancer
• Prostate cancer
• Leukemia
• Lung cancer

Potential mechanisms include:

• Promotion of apoptosis (programmed cell death)
• Slowing cell proliferation
• Effects on differentiation
• Reduced inflammatory signaling

Some clinical studies, particularly in liver cancer, have suggested benefit, but overall evidence is not strong enough to recommend K2 as a cancer treatment.

17. Skin Health

Possible benefits include:

• Reduced calcification of skin tissues
• Improved wound healing
• Support for skin elasticity
• Reduced oxidative stress

Evidence is limited.

18. Eye Health

Research suggests possible roles in:

• Retinal health
• Mitochondrial protection
• Reduced oxidative injury

Human evidence is still sparse.

19. Lung Health

Possible mechanisms include:

• Prevention of elastic fiber calcification
• Reduced vascular calcification within the lungs
• Anti-inflammatory effects

This remains largely experimental.

20. Longevity

Because K2 influences several hallmarks of aging—particularly vascular calcification, bone integrity, inflammation, and mitochondrial function—it is being studied as part of healthy aging strategies. There is no evidence that it directly extends lifespan in humans, but adequate K2 intake may contribute to a healthier lifespan by reducing risks of fractures and cardiovascular disease.

Among vitamins, K2 has one of the strongest mechanistic rationales for supporting bone and cardiovascular health, with additional promising—but generally less conclusive—research in metabolic health, kidney disease, and neurodegenerative disorders. For someone already taking vitamin D and magnesium, adding an appropriate dose of K2 is often considered a logical complement, provided there are no contraindications such as warfarin therapy.

On the other hand Red Yeast Rice (RYR) has the active component monacolin K which is essentially a statin drug and that is why it can lower cholesterol and it can have similar negative effects as statins such as muscle pain, muscle weakness, elevated liver enzymes, headache, digestive upset and lowering CoQ10 levels. Not everyone gets these side effects, but some do. RYR does have other positive health effects besides lowering cholesterol, but not as many as K2M7. The extra CoQ10 is absolutely needed with RYR. If you are 35 or older, Ubiquinol will be the better form of CoQ10 to use because the conversion from CoQ10 into the active form, Ubiquinol starts declining in efficiency starting in your 20's. I'm not saying not to use RYR, but I think you should be aware of exactly what it is before you start it and perhaps your naturopath has already explained this to you.

Your plan sounds reasonable, but you might ask your naturopath specifically why she or he is saying no K2, given its known healthful effects?

Art